Member: I take five different medications and I’m confused as to how I should be taking them. One of the bottles has a sticker on it that says, “Take with Food.” Another medication shouldn’t be taken with iron or milk, but I need to take it in the morning. And a different one says take on an empty stomach. Why are there so many different instructions and how should I keep them straight? —Bonnie, Duluth
➽ Great question, Bonnie! Taking your medications doesn’t need to be a frustrating experience for you. It’s important that your medications get to the parts of your body that they need to do their work on and sometimes the food in your stomach can help that process. Other times, that food can actually stop the medications from working as well as we need them to. Generally, if your medication bottle does not tell you to take the medication on an empty stomach or separate it from certain foods, you’re OK to take it with food. A medication that is labeled to take with food may cause an upset stomach or heartburn and food can help prevent that from happening.
The trickier medications are the ones that need to be taken on an empty stomach or separated from certain things like dairy products or foods containing iron. These medications should be taken two hours before or after you eat in order to keep them working for you. If you’re finding it hard to fit your medications into your schedule, make sure to talk to your doctor or your pharmacist to get specific recommendations.